Salsa & Mambo Video Reviews

Junior & Emily

Int/Adv Partner Work on2

Level: Int-Adv

Style: On 2

Content: Turn Patterns

General Comment:They may very well be called the child prodigies of salsa; at the time of this DVD release this sibling dancing couple were 20 and 16 years old respectively and already well known within the international salsa jet-set for having competed, performed and even taught at several world congresses. And if you have ever seen them dancing, you would know that what brought them to such a high level so quickly was a simple recipe: talent. In this DVD they show us 7 turn patterns danced on2.

There are a couple of curiously old fashioned features about this DVD, despite the fact that it comes from a couple belonging more to the next than the current salsa generation and surely not to the previous one. The first is that despite their both being masters of styling, the content of the DVD is purely focussed on turn patterns. The second is that the turn patterns themselves are very ‘Cuban’, despite being danced on the line and on2 NY style. The Cuban feel comes from some really intricate arm-work and complex looking knots which you would not expect from a couple which is so well-known for styling. That they do go for this is good, since they manage to show us how even such apparent body contortions may look easy and natural if done with grace. Emily manages to come out of every knot with the same elegance she displays in every other salsa decoration and Junior looks at ease in leading them as if he were directing a simple copa. Style-wise you may need to observe carefully to catch the details since the young couple does not put much emphasis of them. Maybe this is inborn to them like harmony was to Mozart but you surely won’t miss Emily’s supersonic spins and Junior’s relaxed and minimalistic lead. Quality wise, surely a top class DVD and well taught.. it could have a bit longer, but you can’t have everything from life..